Christmas in Ukraine: tradition breaks, split remains!

Christmas in Ukraine: tradition breaks, split remains!

in western Ukraine, where tradition meets modernity, the Transkarpatien region is preparing for a special Christmas. For the second time, December 25th is celebrated-a brave step away from the centuries-old customs that are deeply rooted in the Russian Orthodox church. But while the lights of the holidays shine, the tensions are bubbling under the surface.

Transcarpaties, known for its believing people and breathtaking landscapes, has a eventful history. Once shaped by the Greek Catholic Church, the orthodox rites preserved, the region was annexed in 1944 under the Soviet rule of Joseph Stalin. The Russian Orthodox Church, which was closely connected to the KGB, took control. "Soviet secret services forced the Greek-Catholic priests to pro-communist orthodoxy or sent them to Siberia," explains the Transcarpatian expert Oleh Dyba.

The shadows of the past

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) remains the largest religious community in the country, despite its former pro-Russian tendencies. Patriarch Kirill von Moscow, a narrow ally of Vladimir Putin, continues to complicate the situation. He described the war in Ukraine as "Holy War" and claimed that the souls of fallen Russian soldiers were "cleaned". "Russia returns to the discourses of the medieval crusades," warns theologian Andrey Kordochkin.

The UOC officially separated from Moscow and supports the war effort by housing refugees and providing humanitarian aid. But the allegations against their leaders, who are supposedly pro-Moscow sympathies, cannot be overlooked. Metropolitan Mark, a prominent priest from Transcarpaties, sees severe allegations, including the possession of a Russian passport and the construction of an expensive house near Moscow.

a split land

The foundation of the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) in 2019, which is subordinate to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, should symbolize a new beginning. But despite all efforts, the UOC remains strong. "Her priest refused to pray for my cousin, who fought in Donbas in 2015," reports Filip from the Transcarpatian village of Chynadievo. "I've never returned to this church since then."

The tensions between the pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian clergymen have led to dangerous situations. Archbishop Afanasy was suspended in Luhansk in 2014, while the separatists act against Pro-Ukrainian priests. More than 100 UOC priests are suspected of working with Moscow and spreading Russian propaganda. This led to the adoption of a law that prohibits the UOC to strengthen national security.

But these measures could be counterproductive. The German researcher Nikolay Mitrokhin warns: "When Ukraine loses the battlefield, it is risky to deal with your own compatriots." The displacement of the UOC could only lead to it becoming stronger in the underground and presenting itself as a martyr.